Canada Soccer selects players for England youth friendly

Canada Soccer's Men's National Youth Program has announced a 20-player roster for the upcoming Men's U-20 International Friendly match against England. Canada Soccer's technical staff, led by U-20 coach Rob Gale, has selected a squad of players born 1996 or later.

The England camp offers Canada Soccer's young players another opportunity to accumulate experience through international competition. Canada will face England on Sunday 27 March 2016 in Doncaster, England at Keepmoat Stadium (16.00 local kick off).

"This is an additional opportunity to bring together our exceptional young players," said Rob Gale, Canada Soccer's Men's National U-20 Coach. "We selected players from a range of different ages so that we could benefit this group with a key development opportunity through a high-level opposition."

Several of the 1996-born players faced England in a Men's U-20 International Friendly match just over 17 months ago in Bournemouth on 12 November 2014. The match ended in a 2:2 draw, with returning striker Jordan Hamilton scoring the equaliser in the 90th minute. Other players from that camp returning to England in March 2016 are Marco Carducci, Marco Bustos, and Marko Aleksic.

While the 1996-born players are not eligible for the next FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2017, Canada Soccer identified this camp as another opportunity to help develop these key players on their journey to the Men's National Team. Players born 1997 or later, meanwhile, are equally eligible for the current cycle of CONCACAF / FIFA competition on the road to the FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017.

The two youngest players in the squad are 15-year old Alphonso Davies (born in 2000) and 16-year old Ballou Tabla (born in 1999). Both of these players are in fact eligible for the next FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2019.

Canada Soccer’s Men’s EXCEL Program channels our nation’s exceptional players into the best soccer environments. The Canada Soccer Pathway works in collaboration with our provincial and territory partners as well as the professional clubs and academies. For Canada’s elite players, the program emphasizes player development on the pathway to representing Canada’s Men’s National Team in international soccer.